SOCORRO -- Socorro City Council members gave approval on Thursday to the city attorney to seek the return of the city property and files seized by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office when investigators raided the city administration building and city Rep. Jesse Gandara Jr.'s home on July 2.

The item was discussed in executive session, but it comes after sheriff's investigators took computers, travel vouchers and other documents in connection with allegations of discrepancies in travel reimbursements.

Those named in the investigation are city representatives. Gandara, Mary B. Garcia and Guillermo "Willie" Madrid, who voted on Thursday for the city attorney to pursue the return of the items and files.

The investigation also named Socorro police Sgt. Refugio Orta.

The official complaint was filed by city Rep. Maria Reyes. Neither Reyes, city Rep. Gloria Rodriguez nor Mayor Trini Lopez is named in the investigation.

Socorro council members are wasting their time and taxpayers' money, said El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles.

Investigators seized the files and computers as evidence "pursuant to a court order," he said.

The items and documents taken from the the city administrative office earlier this month by investigators are going to be held until the case is completed, Wiles said.

The fact that the person who posted the item on the agenda is one of the suspects in the investigation should raise a red flag to the residents of Socorro, Wiles said. The item was posted by Gandara.

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Wiles said that the investigation continues and that the District Attorney's Office is involved in the case.

"We are not handling this case different than any other," Wiles said.

Madrid said they have done nothing wrong and he wants the items, such as receipts, from the Sheriff's Office so he can prove he is innocent.

In another action, four council members accused Reyes of using city funds "illegally" after she spent about $1,000 from her district's 2011-12 fiscal year discretionary funds to buy heaters, fans and blankets for the elderly.

The donation was made through the Texas A&M University Colonias Program.

Council members said the purchase of heaters and fans for the elderly with Reyes' discretionary funds was illegal and requested the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to initiate an investigation against Reyes. In addition, council members demanded that Reyes reimburse the city. She has 14 working days to pay back the city.

Gandara said that in Reyes' case, the money was used for the benefit of "private citizens" and not for the general public. He said what he and others are accused of misusing was for public purposes.

"If the city purchases something for a city event, for a public purpose, if the city purchases work booths for a city employee or purchases flashlights for a city cop to conduct city business, that is completely different than buying heaters and fans for private homes," Gandara said.

He said none of the public money spent by them has been used in private homes.

Reyes said council members are acting in retaliation for filing the complaint with the Sheriff's Office about misuse of public funds.

Aileen B. Flores may be reached at aflores@elpasotimes.com; 546-6362. Follow her on Twitter @AileenBFlores.